Bridging the gap between basic theoretical texts and specific system recommendations, Fundamentals of Dispersive Optical Spectroscopy Systems addresses the definition, design, justification, and verification of instrumentation for optical spectroscopy, with an emphasis on the application and realization of the technology. The optical spectroscopy solutions discussed within use dispersive spectrometers that primarily involve diffraction gratings. Topics include dispersive elements, detectors, illumination, calibration, and stray light. This book is suitable for students and for professionals looking for a comprehensive text that compares theoretical designs and physical reality during installation.

7.1 Calibration of the Axis of Dispersion, Wavelength, and Photon Energy

7.1.1 Parameters that define the angular position of a dispersion element

7.1.2 Driving a grating or prism spectrometer

7.1.3 Grating spectrometers with a rotary drive

7.1.4 Calibration of the field output

7.2 Calibrating the Axis of Intensity, Signal, and Illumination

7.2.1 Requirements for a useful calibration and portability of data

7.2.2 Light sources for radiometric calibration

7.2.3 Procedures to produce reliable calibrated data

7.3 Transfer Efficiency of Spectrometers

7.3.1 General behavior

7.3.2 Measurement of transfer efficiency

References

8 Stray and False Light: Origin, Impact, and Analysis

8.1 Origin of Stray Light

8.2 Impact of Stray Light

8.2.1 Disturbance in the application of discrete spectral signals

8.2.2 Disturbance in the application of broadband spectral signals

8.3 Analysis and Quantization of Stray Light in Spectrometers and Spectrophotometers

8.4 Minimizing the Impact of Disturbance through Optimization

8.5 Reducing Stray Light

References

9 Related Techniques

9.1 Compact, Fiber-Optically-Coupled Spectrographs

9.2 Programmable Gratings

9.3 Bragg Gratings and Filters

9.4 Hadamard Spectrometer

9.4.1 Principle of Hadamard measurements

9.4.2 Hadamard setups

References

Preface

My search for universal and comprehensive literature on dispersive optical
spectroscopy revealed many gaps. The books on very basic information are
rather theoretical and dig deep into arithmetic derivations to calculate
spectrometers, illumination, and detection. The books on the different
applications of optical spectroscopy are mainly "cookbooks" and do not
explain why something should be done in a certain way. Books with
comprehensive content are available from the vendors of dispersers, spectrometers,
detectors, and systems - they naturally feature the advantages of the
supported products but offer no overall view.

For more than twenty years, I have calculated and delivered special
dispersive spectroscopy systems for different applications. In the time between
inquiry and decision, the customers wanted to justify my presentation and
compare it. A common problem was finding useful references that could be
used to verify my calculations and predictions. So, again and again, I wrote
long letters combining the different parameters of the project presented.
Several of my customers - industrial project managers as well as researchers -
not only acknowledged the proposals but also often used the papers to check
the instrumental performance at delivery. Because the proposals fit the
requirements and the predictions were at least reached, their confidence was
earned. Customers used my papers for internal documentation and teaching.
Several asked me to provide the know-how in a general, written database in
order to close the gap between theory, practice, and applications. After my
retirement from regular work, I did just that, and published my writing on my
homepage (www.spectra-magic.de). Now, the content has been improved and
extended into a pair of printed books, the first of which you have now.
The aim of this book is to supply students, scientists, and technicians
entering the field of optical spectroscopy with a complete and comprehensive
tutorial; to offer background knowledge, overview, and calculation details to
system designers for reference purpose; and to provide an easy-to-read
compendium for specialists familiar with the details of optical spectroscopy.

Acknowledgments

My thanks are first addressed to my wife, Heidi, for her patience during the
many weeks spent investigating, reviewing, and writing. I also thank those
who urged me to start writing at all and who collected data and calculations.
The trigger to turn the homepage into written books came from Dr. Karl-
Friedrich Klein, who kept me going and contacted SPIE. The section on fiber
optics was supported by Joachim Mannhardt, who provided specifics and
added features and ideas. After the manuscript was given to SPIE, external
reviewers spent much effort on the content, providing corrections and
suggestions for improvement; that valuable support came from Mr. Robert
Jarratt and Dr. Alexander Sheeline. Last but not least, I'd like to thank Tim
Lamkins, Scott McNeill, and Kerry McManus Eastwood at SPIE for the
work they invested into the project.

I hope that readers will find useful details that further their interest or
work.